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en-usSat, 25 May 2019 17:15:01 +0200Fri, 24 May 2019 22:40:20 +0200http://content.presspage.com/clients/150_1937.pnghttp://news.jacksonemc.com/
144Jackson EMC offers tips for staying cool as summer’s heating uphttp://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-offers-tips-for-staying-cool-as-summers-heating-up/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/jackson-emc-offers-tips-for-staying-cool-as-summers-heating-up/(JEFFERSON, GA. May 24, 2019) – As temperatures climb into the 90s, Jackson Electric Membership Corporation encourages members to reduce energy use where possible to save money. When temperatures outside are high, heat pumps must work overtime to keep the air indoors cool.

Follow these tips to reduce energy use to save money.

Stay Cool for Less

Nearly half of the electricity used at home goes to condition the air inside. To impact cost, the air conditioner or heat pump needs to run less.

Set your thermostat to 78 degrees.

Don't turn off the air conditioner when you're gone; instead set it higher. Turning it off makes the system work much harder to overcome the heat built up in the house when you turn it back on.

Use a programmable thermostat. Set it to bring your home's temperature down to 78 degrees 30 minutes before you get home.

Replace air conditioner filters now, then once a month. The dirtier the filter, the harder your heat pump must work.

Lamps, televisions or anything that creates heat needs to be kept away from the thermostat, as they will impact its accuracy.

Don't block vents with furniture or other objects.

Use ceiling fans when you are in a room to provide additional cooling; they also provide better circulation, which reduces air conditioning costs.

Trim foliage around the air conditioning condenser to allow adequate airflow around the unit.

Reduce Heat Inside

Restrict use of heat-producing appliances like ovens, dishwashers and dryers to the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler outdoors.

Grill outside or use a microwave or toaster oven. A toaster oven uses one-third to one-half as much energy as a regular oven and releases less heat into the home.

Turn off heat-generating devices when not in use — including lamps, televisions and computers.

On warm days, close blinds and drapes, especially in south-facing windows which allow in the most heat.

Cut Energy Use Everywhere Else

Activate “sleep” features on computers and office equipment that power down when the equipment is not in use.

Do full loads when you use clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers.

Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

Replace lightbulbs with LED bulbs, which burn longer and produce less heat.

Plan Long-term

Plant deciduous trees to shade the south side of your house.

Insulate floors, walls and attics to keep cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Get your air conditioner tuned-up. Consider a maintenance contract that provides a checkup twice a year, prior to peak cooling and heating seasons.

If your HVAC unit is 10 years old or more, consider replacing it. New models are more efficient and may lower your electric bill. Jackson EMC offers rebates and low-interest loans for qualifying members. More details about these programs are available at www.jacksonemc.com/rebates.

To minimize the impact weather has on electric bills, many electric utilities offer billing options that level out the costs from summer and winter energy usage over a 12-month period. Jackson EMC’s budget billing plan for members works by averaging the current month and the last 11 months of electric use, which becomes the new monthly payment amount. Members interested in budget billing should call their local office at 1-800-462-3691 or learn more at www.jacksonemc.com/budgetbilling.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 225,000 meters on 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,saving,energyFri, 24 May 2019 16:40:20 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_solarflareimage-361889.jpg?10000Ways to Save: Summer Rates Now in Effecthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-summer-rates-now-in-effect-19/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-summer-rates-now-in-effect-19/When temperatures rise in the summer, the demand for electricity to keep homes and businesses comfortable also rises, along with costs for providers to generate electricity.

But, for Jackson EMC members, the cost of electricity in the summer is among the lowest in the state, according to the Georgia Public Service Commission’s residential rate survey.

Out of 94 electric providers in the state, Jackson EMC’s standard residential summer rate last year ranked 19th lowest for members using 1,500 kWh a month.

Summer Rates

(May-September)

First 650 kWh: 8.81¢ per kWh

Next 350 kWh: 11.06¢ per kWh

Over 1000 kWh: 11.66¢ per kWh

To help lower your monthly bill this summer, reduce the amount of energy you use by following the tips available at jacksonemc.com/waystosave.

]]>latest,News,coop,saving,energyWed, 15 May 2019 10:02:31 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-969233490-632029.jpg?10000Right Choice Homes Offer Comfort, Savingshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/right-choice-homes-offer-comfort-savings/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/right-choice-homes-offer-comfort-savings/When it comes to buying a new home, location matters. But, if you’re in the search for a new home, are you also considering energy efficiency?

For any home, heating and cooling are typically 42% of the energy consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Jackson EMC’s Right ChoiceTM homes program makes it easier for homeowners to ensure their new home will be comfortable and energy efficient. In fact, Right Choice homes come with a one-year comfort warranty and a three-year energy use warranty.

In addition, each Right Choice Home is:

Designed by engineers to calculate properly sized heating and air conditioning equipment designed to achieve maximum efficiency.

Tested for home performance to ensure energy efficient construction.

Given Jackson EMC’s energy advantage rate, which saves homeowners approximately 5% on their annual energy bill for the life of the home.

With a Right Choice home, a homeowner could save $120 per year on their energy bill if their average monthly bill is $200.

]]>latest,News,savingWed, 15 May 2019 09:52:44 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20190510rightchoice01-125750.jpg?10000Ways to Save: HomePlus Loanshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-homeplus-loans/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-homeplus-loans/Low interest loan program helps members make home improvements

Thinking of making energy efficient improvements to your home? As a member of Jackson EMC, you may qualify for our HomePlus Loan program. The low-interest loan program allows members to finance up to $5,500 for 36 months for energy efficient improvements, like:

I must admit, when it comes to DIY home projects, that phrase makes my pulse race and my head spin.

Do it yourself.

But, that’s what plumbers, electricians, tile layers and stonemasons are for, right? Why should I presume that I can duplicate their talents?

And then, a quick glance at the balance in my checking account reminds me: When you employ yourself to do the easier handiwork, you pay less.

That thought lowers my pulse and steadies my head.

Thankfully, when it comes to making your home more energy efficient, Jackson EMC can guide you through projects through a collection of videos.

Home expert and TV host Ty Pennington introduces each Jackson EMC DIY video. Each clip is jam-packed with energy- and money-saving tips and small projects:

DIY Water Heater Tips: Ty acknowledges that, after heating and cooling costs, water heating is the next big energy expense on a typical residential bill. What may seem minor, like a leaky faucet, can cost homeowners a lot of money. To keep water hot and reduce waste, the video shows how to visually inspect a water heater to ensure there are no leaks. There’s also a recommendation to set the thermostat at 120 degrees or less to save money and lower the risk of burns caused by water that’s too hot.

DIY Thermal Envelope: Ty explains that a house’s “thermal envelope” includes insulation, doors, and windows — elements designed to keep outside temperatures outside and inside temps inside. This video highlights keeping the envelope tight by showing how you can inspect insulation in the attic and how to install new insulation. Homeowners are warned to steer away from power ventilators that often use more energy than they save. The video recommends replacing single pane windows with energy-efficient double pane windows and demonstrates how to fill in gaps at doors with weather-stripping, gaps at windows with caulking, and gaps at under-sink pipes with expandable foam.

DIY HVAC Tips: This video shares tips on properly maintaining heating and cooling systems, from checking for leaky ductwork to checking and replacing filters. Other easy DIY fixes include checking to ensure vents aren’t blocked by furniture or rugs and making sure outside units are not obstructed by plants or leaves. Do-it-yourselfers are encouraged to enlist qualified heating and air conditioning contractors to inspect HVAC systems every six months in order to make sure minor problems are detected before they become major.

DIY Energy Usage Habits: There are several little things you can do to bring big savings to your power bill, according to Ty. These include replacing old lightbulbs with new, energy-efficient LEDs, which last five times longer than comparable bulbs and can save you energy costs over time. Other easy-to-accomplish tips include turning lights off when not in use, setting the HVAC thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter, keeping exterior doors closed, and doing laundry in cold water.

Even if you’ve never held a caulking gun, these videos help make doing it yourself pleasant and pain-free. Check out all of the videos at jacksonemc.com/diy-energy-projects.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,saving,blogWed, 03 Apr 2019 15:45:12 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-860487134-319880.jpg?24613Make it Fun: Teach Kids to Save Energyhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/make-it-fun-teach-kids-to-save-energy/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/make-it-fun-teach-kids-to-save-energy/Parents may understand that saving energy is a part of managing a household budget. But, kids? Most likely, they need some help.

The good news is that teaching kids about energy efficiency can be fun. By making energy-saving steps entertaining for kids, they’ll have an easier time learning.

Not sure how? Try some of these kid-friendly lessons to make energy efficiency fun.

"Goodnight, Lights"

Make conserving energy part of your daily bedtime routine. Walk around your house with your child and say “goodnight” to every light while turning it off.

Light Police

Pretend your child is a police officer on “light duty.” Give your child the job of turning off all lights in your home to enforce the idea of saving energy.

Connected Energy

If you have a smart thermostat, use your smart thermostat’s app to access your energy use. Make it a game for your kids to guess your daily energy use, based on the recent weather temperatures. The guess (or guesses) closest to your actual energy use gets a reward.

Dinner Powered by Kids

Encourage your kids to prepare a family dinner that doesn’t use electricity. That means skipping the microwave and oven to create a healthy family meal (hey, salads count!).

"I Spy"

Have your child put on a “detective suit” and pretend to go hunting for energy wasters, like devices plugged in electrical outlets that aren’t in use, or dripping faucets.

Ribbon Game

Find potential air leaks in your home by using a piece of ribbon. Hold the ribbon around window frames and gaps around doors. If the ribbon moves, there’s an air gap – which means your house is losing energy. If you find an air leak, involve your kids in buying and installing weather stripping.

Electricity Challenge

During a week, aim to check all five of these boxes for your household. Make this a family game and celebrate your accomplishment when you check all five boxes:

Turn off all lights before leaving your home

Take a shower in five minutes or less to conserve heated water

Wash clothes in a full load of the washing machine using cold water, which saves energy

Have a “digital detox” day or a few hours and skip turning on TVs, computers, video games and smartphones

Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer

Making small changes to when you use energy could help you save on your electric bill.

By signing up for Jackson EMC’s Time-of-Use rate, you can take advantage of a year-round lower electric rate for reducing your energy use between the hours of 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays from June 1 to Sept. 15.

Reducing your energy use during summer peak periods helps us control the higher costs of producing electricity in the summer.

For participating members, Jackson EMC installs a meter that logs all energy used during peak and off-peak periods. During peak periods (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, excluding the Independence Day and Labor Day holidays, between June 1 to Sept. 15), the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour will be 34.35 cents. During off-peak periods, the cost lowers significantly for Time-of-Use participating members to only 7.35 cents per kilowatt hour. The normal residential rate is 8.81-11.66 cents per kilowatt hour. The monthly service charge for Time-of-Use members is $25 per month.

To participate this summer, sign up by May 1. Members who sign up after May 1 will begin the Time-of-Use rate next summer. Register by calling 1-800-462-3691 or visiting your local Jackson EMC office.

We have members.

If you receive power from Jackson EMC, you’re a member-owner of this cooperative. Along with receiving margin refunds and having a say in the management of the cooperative, you have access to additional services.

Through our online energy efficiency store, Jackson EMC Marketplace, members can receive instant rebates on select smart thermostats. In addition, members can shop for LED lightbulbs, connected home products, water-saving products and more.

Members over age 62 with a total household income less than $16,910 can receive a $12.50 credit on their monthly bill. An application with additional requirements and instructions for the senior/low-income discount is available online.

Members interested in adding monitored security service from EMC Security to their home or business can add the charges to their monthly electric bill. EMC Security offers professionally-installed or DIY security systems and video cameras.

Members who participate in the Green Power program can reduce their impact on the environment without installing equipment. Participating members can purchase 150-kilowatt-hour blocks of green energy for an additional fee of $4.50 per month.

Whole-house surge protection is available for motor-driven appliances, such as HVAC units, refrigerators, garage door openers and water heaters. High-quality plug-in surge protectors are also available for $17-$88.

Low-interest loans up to $5,500 can help members complete energy efficient home improvements, such as installing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances or installing an ENGERY STAR-qualified heat pump replacement.

Budget billing levels out the seasonal peaks of electricity use so members pay an average of their annual energy consumption each month.

Through our partnership with filterchange.coop, you can have the right-sized filters delivered to your door at the lowest price. You can also get email reminders when it’s time to check them. jacksonemc.com/filter

Rebates save you money if you need to replace your heat pump or water heater.

]]>latest,coop,News,savingMon, 18 Mar 2019 14:00:04 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_memberresources2-437359.png?38103A Whole New Lighthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/a-whole-new-light/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/a-whole-new-light/Traditional incandescent lightbulbs are making way for more energy efficient options, like light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LEDs use only 20-25 percent of the energy of traditional incandescent bulbs and last 15 to 25 times longer, according to Energy.gov.

With the newer technology in lighting comes a new way of thinking about buying lightbulbs. But, purchasing an energy efficient lightbulb doesn’t have to be difficult.

Follow these guidelines for selecting the LED bulb that's right for you.

Bulb Life & Cost

While the initial price to buy an energy efficient lightbulb is typically higher than traditional incandescent bulbs, newer bulbs cost less to operate - which saves you money over the life of the bulb. Many of the new bulbs last significantly longer than traditional bulbs, so you don't need to replace them as often.*

Annual Energy Cost

$4.80 - Traditional incandescent

$1.20 - 15W CFL

$1.00 - 12W LED

Bulb Brightness

Bulb brightness for incandescent bulbs is measured in watts - which is a measure of energy used, not brightness. But for LED bulbs, look at the lumens - which measures the brightness of the bulbs. More lumens means it's a brighter light; fewer lumens means it's dimmer. Lumens is the amount of light emitted from the bulb. So, when buying new bulbs, think lumens - not watts.

To help you buy the brightness you need, follow these rules of thumb:

Watts

Incandescent Bulb Energy Used

Lumens

New Bulb Brightness

40W

450 lumens

60W

800 lumens

75W

1100 lumens

100W

1600 lumens

150W

2600 lumens

Bulb Color

Energy efficient lighting comes in a range of colors. The light appearance is shown on the Kelvin (K) scale - which is the measurement of temperate.

Lower K means the light will have a more yellow/orange hue. A warm white - about 2,700 K - is roughly the standard color of an incandescent lightbulb. A cooler white - around 7,000 K - will look more like natural daylight.

Historically, Northeast Georgia continues to see freezing temperatures through February and March. To save money, Jackson EMC recommends you follow these energy efficient tips:

Energy Efficient Heating Habits

Nearly half of the electricity used at home goes to condition the air inside. To reduce cost, the HVAC unit needs to run less.

Set your thermostat to 68 degrees.

For homes with heat pumps, nighttime setbacks and frequent thermostat changes will increase energy costs and are not recommended. Programmable and smart thermostats designed for heat pumps allow setbacks without increasing operating costs.

Only set the thermostat to “emergency heat” in the event the heat pump is not working. Since emergency heat costs nearly twice as much to operate as normal operation of a heat pump, it should not be used except in the case of system failure while awaiting repairs.

Use the fireplace sparingly. It draws your home’s heated air up the chimney.

Ensure proper airflow to indoor supply and return vents, and around your outdoor unit. Do not block indoor supply and return vents with furniture or other objects. Keep the outdoor unit free of leaves, grass, shrubs, snow, or anything else that can block airflow.

Cut Energy Use Everywhere Else

Activate “sleep” features on computers and office equipment that power down when the equipment is not in use for more than an hour.

Do full loads when you use clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers.

Use dimmers, timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED lightbulbs, which burn longer and use less energy.

Turn off or unplug unused appliances or lights.

Plan Long-Term

Insulate floors, walls and attics to keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Get your air conditioner tuned-up. Consider a maintenance contract that provides a checkup twice a year, prior to peak cooling and heating seasons.

If your HVAC unit is 10 years old or older, consider replacing it. New models are more energy efficient and may lower your electric bill. Jackson EMC offers rebates and low-interest loans for qualifying members. More details about these programs are available at www.jacksonemc.com/rebates.

To minimize the impact weather has on electric bills, many electric utilities offer billing options that level out the costs from summer and winter energy usage over a 12-month period. Jackson EMC’s budget billing plan for members works by averaging the current month and the last 11 months of electric use, which becomes the new monthly payment amount. Members interested in budget billing should call their local office at 1-800-462-3691 or visit www.jacksonemc.com/budgetbilling, to learn more.

Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, the largest electric cooperative in Georgia and one of the largest in the nation, is headquartered 50 miles northeast of Atlanta in Jefferson, Ga. The cooperative serves more than 230,000 meters on more than 14,000 miles of energized wire. For more information, visit jacksonemc.com.

]]>latest,saving,NewsMon, 21 Jan 2019 11:26:00 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-621588062-162915.jpg?10000Pay the Same Amount Each Month with Budget Billinghttp://news.jacksonemc.com/pay-the-same-amount-each-month-with-budget-billing/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/pay-the-same-amount-each-month-with-budget-billing/Need to know how much your electric bill will cost each month?

With Jackson EMC's budget billing program, you pay the same amount each month.

In winter and summer months, heating and air conditioning systems are used more often, which is reflected in electric bills. Budget billing takes the 12-month average of your household’s electric bill and balances it so you pay the same amount each month.

]]>latest,saving,saving money,coopMon, 14 Jan 2019 17:01:54 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-944130460-652965.jpg?10000Year Round Energy Savingshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/year-round-energy-savings/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/year-round-energy-savings/When the weather changes each season, your home’s energy efficiency changes, too. And while you may not be able to do all energy-saving steps at once, you can tackle a few tasks each season. Follow our energy-saving checklist to stay on track.

Winter

Set your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter. As a rule of thumb, your heating cost will increase three percent for each degree above 68 degrees.

When buying new appliances or electronics, purchase ENERGY STAR®-certified products, which are more energy efficient than standard products. According to ENERGY STAR®, a certified full-sized electric dryer will save you $200 in energy bills over the life of the product. Visit energystar.gov for more energy-saving product comparisons.

Perform an energy evaluation to give you information on where your house may be losing energy and what you can do to save money. Jackson EMC offers professional home energy evaluations with a representative visiting your house. Or, you can use our DIY Home Checkup Kit. Visit jacksonemc.com/savenow for details.

Spring

Switch to energy-saving lightbulbs. By replacing five of your home’s most frequently used light bulbs with ENERGY-STAR®-certified bulbs, you can save up to $45 each year.

Check the condition of your water heater, including keeping the temperature set to an energy-efficient 120 degrees. Typically, a water heater accounts for 14 percent of a home’s annual energy costs.

Start using ceiling fans, so people in rooms feel cooler.

Summer

Close blinds and drapes over windows to block the sun’s ray from heating your home in the summer.

Wash dishes and clothes in the early morning or evening. By doing these chores during cooler times of the day, you’ll reduce the heat and humidity appliances can produce.

Set your thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer. Lower settings will increase operating costs approximately five percent for every degree below 78 degrees. Installing a programmable thermostat can save your as much as 10% on energy costs every year.

Fall

Inspect windows, doors and attic entryways for air leaks, and gaps in caulking and weather stripping. These small gaps and cracks can cause heated or cooled air from your home to escape, which, in turn, causes your energy costs to rise.

Ensure your electric devices are connected to a power strip and turn it off when the devices aren’t being used. These “energy vampires” can drain energy when the devices are plugged in, but not being used. Energy vampires could cost the average household up to $100-$200 a year.

Decorate with LED holiday lights, which save energy and are more durable than traditional lightbulbs. The energy cost to use an incandescent string of holiday lights for 12 hours each day for 40 days is $10, but the energy cost for LED string lights is $0.27, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Every 1-2 Months

Change your HVAC system’s air filters.

Every 6 Months

Hire a trained professional to perform routine maintenance of your heating and air conditioning system.

It’s usually after the holidays, when the January energy bill arrives, when homeowners realize they’ve consumed extra energy in late November and December. While the higher energy bill can be attributed mostly to colder weather, it’s a good bet that a portion of the increase is due to the holidays.

In many households, the holidays serve as multipliers of energy consumption. It’s a time when there is typically more of almost everything, whether that’s family and friends at the table, extravagant meals on the table, or overnight guests necessitating more laundry, more hot showers and more dishes to wash.

It’s a delightful time meant to be enjoyed, but that joy can fade in January, if your energy bill is higher. Take care now to keep that from happening by following a few tips for keeping energy use under control when entertaining for the holidays.

With Company in Mind: The biggest draw on your winter energy bill comes from heating your home. While 68 degrees (the recommended thermostat setting for winter) may be comfortable for your immediate family, it could become downright toasty with a houseful of guests. After a morning of holiday cooking, the kitchen and adjoining rooms exude extra heat; add a dozen houseguests to the mix and the body heat could make your winter holiday feel like a sauna. Do your January energy bill a favor: Turn the thermostat down a few notches before guests arrive.

With grandchildren and/or grandparents in the house, you may be doing extra laundry. Since water heaters account for about 25 percent of electricity consumed, you’ll save on the energy bill by keeping the water heater temperature at 120 degrees or lower and using cold water for laundry.

Treat your guests to air purifiers in their rooms to help minimize potential allergic reactions and the spread of colds and flu. Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters for maximum air purification.

Ensure guests are safe from fires by keeping a fire extinguisher on each level of your home, and make sure batteries are up-to-date in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Holiday Lights: When it comes to decorating for the holidays, it’s possible to be festive and frugal at the same time. Be smart about how many lights you put up. Consider using fewer strands of lights, both inside and outside, and a timer to turn off lights and other decorations during the daytime or when you’re not home.

Mealtime: Plan meals so multiple dishes can be cooked in the oven at the same time. Don’t bother with preheating the oven when you’re about to cook a turkey or ham for several hours.

Use the slow cooker, microwave and other smaller appliances when possible since they use less energy.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

The holiday season is a busy time of year – but a few smart moves in the kitchen can help you save energy and money. Make meal preparation easier by following some of these tips.

Replace Warped Pans

Flatbottom cookware allows for more contact with heating elements, which in turn heats your pan more effectively. A warpedbottom pot could use 50 percent more energy to boil water than a flatbottomed pot.

Use the Right Size Cookware

When cooking on the stove top, using the right size pan matters. Placing a six-inch pan on an eight-inch electric burner wastes more than 40 percent of the heat produced by the burner. In addition, covering pans as you cook also saves some energy.

Double Up

If possible, prepare double portions of your meal and cook them together. Freeze the extra portions for later. It takes a lot less energy to reheat food than to cook it twice. Using a microwave can use as much as 80 percent less energy when reheating food than a standard oven.

Give Your Heat Pump a Break

If you’re hosting people at home for a holiday party, turn down your thermostat to compensate for the extra heat. The heat from the oven and guests will make your home warmer. So, turn down your heat pump’s temperature to keep your home comfortable for everyone.

]]>latest,saving,newsTue, 13 Nov 2018 14:25:07 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-862496480-627759.jpg?10000Saving in the Kitchenhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/saving-in-the-kitchen/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/saving-in-the-kitchen/In many households, the kitchen is like a living room. It’s not just where meals are prepared; it’s where conversation is shared while cooking and while eating. It’s where mom gets her coffee, where bookbags land when the kids get home from school, and where dad takes off his shoes after a long day at work. For most families, it’s the hub of the home.

So, it shouldn’t surprise you that a portion of the electricity we consume stems from life lived in the kitchen. To be fair, the largest chunk of your energy bill still comes from heating and cooling your home and from your water heater. But, it’s a safe bet that of any room in your home, the kitchen is the one with the most receptacles. At any time, several large appliances are plugged in, either working night and day, like the fridge, or on standby, like the stove.

Keep the freezer and fridge full. To make the most of your food-cooling energy dollars, keep the freezer and refrigerator at least three-quarters or preferably all the way full. A filled fridge keeps internal temperatures consistent and makes it easier to cool quickly after opening and closing the door.

Check the temperature. Refrigerated items do well when the temp is set at 37-40 degrees Fahrenheit, while freezers set at 0-5 degrees do the job. If temperatures are set higher, you’ll use more energy than you need — and pay more than necessary.

Use the dishwasher. You won’t save energy washing dishes by hand. Typically, a dishwasher uses far less water and energy than handwashing to clean the same number of items.

Run dishwashers only when full. Since they use the same amount of water and energy whether packed full or half empty, be sure to fill the dishwasher before you run it. You’ll save on your monthly energy bill and lengthen the life of your appliance.

Match pot to burner and cover the pot. Match your small pot or pan to the small burner and larger pot and pan to the large burner. Almost half of the energy created is lost when a small pan is used for cooking on a large burner. Cover pots and pans to retain heat; you’ll use less energy and your food will cook faster.

Use small appliances. Keep your oven turned off and use a microwave, toaster oven, tabletop grill, or slow cooker instead. You’ll save on your energy bill and your kitchen won’t feel like a sauna.

Cut frontend and backend heating time. Although many recipes call for preheating the oven, it’s usually not necessary except when baking. Disregard directions at the beginning of recipes to preheat, making the oven work needlessly while you spend a half-hour preparing what to put in it. On the backend, turn off the oven or stovetop burner a few minutes before the dish is done and allow residual heat to finish the cooking.

Keep the oven door shut. It’s tempting to open, peer and poke. Don’t do it. The oven will lose heat immediately and will pull double duty to bring the temperature back up. Use the oven light to peek inside.

Unplug small appliances. There’s no need to keep the toaster, coffee maker or can opener plugged in unless you’re using them. Store them in a cabinet to tidy up your countertops, and you won’t waste energy that’s pulled from plugged-in appliances when they’re not in use.

Unplug the extra refrigerator. After buying a new one, maybe you moved your old fridge to the basement so you wouldn’t have to walk upstairs to fetch drinks and grub when watching football with your friends. It sounded like a great idea, and maybe the fridge stayed semi-full for a few weeks. It’s probably almost empty now. Take out the half-empty condiment bottles and what little else is left inside, unplug that energy guzzler, and you’ll save up to $120 a year.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 24 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

Even if appliances and devices are turned off — if they’re still plugged in to electric outlets — they’re sucking up power. And, that could cost the average household up to $100-$200 a year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

So, how can you tackle these so-called “energy vampires”? Besides unplugging devices or appliances not use, you can also control your energy use by using power strips to turn off multiple devices with just one switch. On computers, be sure to use the sleep mode function to minimize the amount of energy it’s using. And, always look for ENERGY STAR® rated appliances to help you save money for years to come.

Common Energy Vampires:

• Computer equipment, including printers

• TVs

• Video game consoles

• Surround sound systems

• Cable or satellite TV boxes

• Household items with a clock, such as coffee makers and Blue-ray/DVD players

]]>latest,saving,newsWed, 10 Oct 2018 11:00:16 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-1022312334.jpg?10000Winter Rates: Now in Effecthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/winter-rates-now-in-effect/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/winter-rates-now-in-effect/Decreased demand for electricity during the winter enables us to pass savings along to you through low electric rates. Winter rates begin in October and continue through April.

*The Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment and other applicable taxes are also part of your total electric bill.

Learn more about our residential electric rates at jacksonemc.com/rates and view schedule A-18 for residential service.

]]>latest,saving,newsTue, 09 Oct 2018 16:34:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-846856242.jpg?10000Shop Smart for Large Applianceshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/shop-smart-for-large-appliances/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/shop-smart-for-large-appliances/I can almost hear my daddy saying, “The best time to shop for a car is when the one you have quits running.”

I’m of the opinion that’s the best time to shop for kitchen appliances, too. Why replace something that still works?

My stove has been in the kitchen since the house was built in 1982. That’s when we bought it new — for 50 bucks — at a scratch-and-dent sale. The small dent on the side wasn’t visible when the stove was positioned into place, but it was big enough to knock off the bulk of the price.

When I remodeled the kitchen five years ago, a friend tried to talk me into buying a new stove since I was updating almost everything. I refused. The electric stove worked fine then, and it works fine now. It’s only needed one repair; it took $12 to replace a surface element that burned out. So, in the past 36 years, my stove has cost $62 (excluding the cost of energy), and it still works like a champ.

While I’m bound to drive it ’til it drops dead, some people prefer to swap cars — or kitchen appliances — when newer models with fancy features come out. And that’s cool, too. Just be sure to shop smartly.

The fall is the optimal time to buy most major appliances, according to Kiplinger.com and Consumer Reports. This is when manufacturers introduce new models, making it necessary to discount the previous year’s versions in order to make space for new models that arrive later in the season. Generally, many stores kick-off their autumn appliance deals on Labor Day weekend.

While autumn is premium for most large appliance shopping, you’ll find the best deals on a fridge in May. Refrigerator manufacturers introduce their new models in the spring, leading retailers to slash prices on older models. For the best deals, wait for Memorial Day weekend sales. Holidays in general are great times to shop for discounted appliances, whether it’s Memorial Day, Labor Day or President’s Day weekend.

When shopping for large appliances, remember that energy efficient models may cost more at purchase, but they’ll save money on your power bill, so the upfront investment may be worth it in the long run. And no matter when you shop for appliances, be sure to compare prices. Peruse the ads and go online to check out deals at local stores. Compare prices at online sites, but don’t forget to factor in shipping and delivery charges.

Chances are your stove won’t die in September and your fridge won’t fail in May — at the prime times for catching new ones on sale. You might save more cash, anyway, by purchasing gently used models. Look for good deals on Craigslist and your community’s online yard sale site. Do some homework to see what’s available in your area, and you may score a slightly-used, great performing appliance at a bargain price.

If you do visit a mom-and-pop appliance shop or one of the big box stores, be sure to ask about scratch-and-dents. You could be patting yourself on the back years from now for such a smart buy.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 24 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,news,saving,blogFri, 05 Oct 2018 11:52:49 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-520324302.jpg?10000Let There be Light(bulbs)http://news.jacksonemc.com/let-there-be-lightbulbs/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/let-there-be-lightbulbs/Lightbulbs have been around more than a century, but nowadays harder-working bulbs are on the market. In recent years, the industry has shifted from producing incandescent lightbulbs to making more energy efficient CFL and LED lightbulbs.

Even the way we spell lightbulb has changed. Just a few years ago, if I wrote lightbulb, spellcheck underlined it in squiggly red to let me know I had committed an error. The correct spelling, according to dictionaries (I consulted many), was light bulb. But now when I type “lightbulb,” there’s no squiggly red line taunting me. It has become acceptable, even preferred, to delete the space between the two words. But I digress.

It’s all to say the whole light bulb -- I mean lightbulb -- thing has become somewhat confusing. But where there’s a will to bring understanding, there’s a way to shed light on bulbs.

First, a little background: Everything seemed fine with incandescent lightbulbs, those cheap bulbs you could buy in bulk (four for $2) until 2007 when the Energy Independence and Security Act established efficiency standards requiring that lightbulbs use 25 percent less energy. As the new standards were phased in from 2012 to 2014, traditional incandescent bulbs took a backseat to fancy new bulbs that met the new standards, including compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs) and even halogen incandescent bulbs.

Today, the newer, energy efficient bulbs use from 25 percent up to 80 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs of yesteryear—all while producing the same amount of light for less money. And they last up to 25 times longer than the old bulbs, so they don’t need replacing as often. Switch out traditional incandescent bulbs for the newer bulbs in just five of your home’s most frequently-used light fixtures and you’ll save about $75 in annual energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Which bulb packs the most bang for your buck? Just as packaged foods have nutrition labels, packaging for lightbulbs now features “Lighting Facts” labels with information regarding the bulb’s brightness, estimated annual energy costs, life span and light appearance ranging from warm to cool.

Most importantly, when purchasing lightbulbs, you must think in terms of lumens, not watts. In the past, bulbs were sold and purchased based on how much energy, measured in watts, they used. Now, the emphasis is on how much light they provide, which is measured in lumens: The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light the bulb emits.

Since traditional 100-watt incandescent lightbulbs don’t meet the new standards, most stores don’t carry them anymore. Instead, you’ll find CFLs and LEDs that produce about 1,600 lumens; that’s the equivalent of the former 100-watt bulb. If you’re looking for bright light, buy bulbs with more lumens; if you’re shooting for something dimmer, buy bulbs with fewer lumens.

As lightbulbs have evolved in recent years, the LED has risen to the top as the most energy efficient. While LEDs and CFLs can produce the same amount and quality of light, LEDs do so while using less energy. Not so long ago, CFLs were the preferred choice due to their energy efficiency and because they allowed broader light coverage than their counterparts. Now though, LEDs have caught up with, and even surpassed, CFLs in terms of energy consumption, color options, cost and longevity.

When purchasing bulbs, just keep in mind: In almost all cases, the less you pay upfront for lightbulbs, the more you’ll pay or your power bill.

Traditional incandescent bulbs don’t cost much, if you can find them, but they consume far more power, which can ratchet up your power bill. The CFLs cost a little more to purchase, but they result in a lower power bill.

Your best bet: LEDs cost almost twice as much as CFLs, but what they save in energy costs will more than pay for the extra purchase price.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,news,saving,blogThu, 30 Aug 2018 10:54:23 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-598954202.jpg?1000012 Cool Ways to Lower Your Energy Billhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/12-cool-ways-to-lower-your-energy-bill/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/12-cool-ways-to-lower-your-energy-bill/Everyone likes to save money - and your electric bill is no exception. By making small adjustments to how you use energy in your home, you can begin to see lower electric bills. Follow these money-saving tips to reduce your energy use, and in turn, your monthly bill.

1. Set your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. Cooling and heating is typically the single largest expense in a home, so being smart about how you use your heat pump can make a significant difference in your bill.

2. Use a programmable thermostat, which can save as much as 10% a year in energy costs.

3. Check air filters each month and replace them if they are dirty. Clean filters can save 5-15% on your electric bill.

4. Check for water leaks around your house. A leaking faucet isn’t just wasting water, it’s also wasting electricity for your water heater to warm the water.

5. Set your water heater thermostat to 120-130 degrees. As a safety precaution, shut off the electricity to your water heater before adjusting the temperature.

6. Add weather stripping to areas where air leaks occur in your home.

7. Keep the oven door closed while cooking. Each time you open the oven door while cooking, the oven temperature drops by as much as 25 degrees, which means the oven works harder to get the temperature back to the proper cooking temperature. Instead, check on food through the oven window.

8. Unplug devices not used frequently. When devices are plugged in, but not being used, the phantom power can account for up to 10% of electronics total energy use in your home.

9. Switch to LED light bulbs instead of using incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs use 25% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 25 times longer.

10. Use a slow cooker or toaster oven more often, instead of the oven. Using these smaller appliances to cook food can mean energy savings.

11. Carefully pull your refrigerator out one inch, if it’s currently pressed against a wall. Your refrigerator’s condenser works harder when it’s pressed against a wall and can’t circulate air.

12. Run full loads in your washer, dryer and dishwasher to maximize its efficiency.

]]>latest,saving,newsTue, 21 Aug 2018 16:56:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-490366746.jpg?10000Saving Energy Keeps Getting Easierhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/saving-energy-keeps-getting-easier/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/saving-energy-keeps-getting-easier/I would never dream of leaving my childhood room, much less the house, without turning the lights off. Mama and Daddy drilled it in my head from infancy: Turn off the lights when you leave your room. It was old-fashioned common sense: Don’t waste what you’re not using.

When I became the queen of my own castle, I realized there was more to it. There was a money-saving component because less energy consumed meant lower power bills.

Recently I got to thinking about the old energy rules and the newer ideas and inventions that have altered them. Here are a few oldies with their newbie counterparts:

Turn off the lights. It’s still a good idea to switch off the lights when you leave the room, but there are even more ways now to save on your electric bill. If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to replace your incandescent lightbulbs and fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) with light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs. LEDs produce high-quality lighting, use far less energy, and last much longer. By switching to LEDs, you’ll save money on the replacement cost of lightbulbs and on your energy bill.

Turn up your A/C thermostat setting. Raise your thermostat setting on your central air conditioning system. Turn the thermostat up in summer to save energy; preferable settings for premium energy efficiency are 78 in summer. (And if you have trouble remembering to dial back the thermostat when you leave the house or go to sleep, invest in a smart thermostat that learns your family’s schedule and remembers for you. When used properly, a smart thermostat can save about $180 a year in energy costs, according to Energstar.gov.)

Take short showers. A 10-minute shower consumes less water than a typically full bath, saving water and the power used to produce it. But with today’s low-flow showerheads, you can save even more. A 2.5 gallon-per-minute, low-flow showerhead uses about 25 gallons of water during a 10-minute shower while a typical bath uses closer to 30 gallons. Newer model showerheads can save up to $145 annually on power costs.

Wash dishes by hand. No, just no. Washing dishes by hand typically uses more water and energy. You’ll save both by using your dishwasher if you adhere to these simple suggestions: scrape instead of rinsing dishes before loading them, run the dishwasher only with a full load, and use the air-dry option if your dishwasher has one. Today’s appliances wash dishes beautifully without rinsing first; let the wash cycle and detergent take care of the cleaning.

Don’t wash clothes in hot water. With improved appliances and products, there’s not much reason to use hot water, and you’ll save energy and money by using cold water. When it comes to electricity used when washing clothes, the washer motor only uses about 10 percent of the energy required to wash a load of clothes; water heating accounts for the remaining 90 percent of energy when you wash with hot water. Use cold water only and you’ll not only save energy; you’ll lengthen the lifespan of your clothes, too. Save more by washing only full loads or reducing the water level when washing a partial load.

Finally, if your appliances still work well, hang on to them. But when the time comes to replace older appliances, it’s worth it to invest in newer, energy-efficient models.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

Residential members can log in to My Energy Use from their Jackson EMC online account. From there, My Energy User’s dashboard can display your energy use for the past 30 days and provide an overlay of how weather has affected your energy use.

]]>latest,saving,NewsWed, 20 Jun 2018 09:58:10 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_jemco-myenergyuseicon.jpg?10000Trusting Your HVAC Servicemanhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/trusting-your-hvac-serviceman/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/trusting-your-hvac-serviceman/My dad was a mechanic and knew a lot of mechanics, and because of that, I grew up with no worries when it came to auto repair. There were plenty of people I trusted to care for my car.

In recent years, with the absence of my dad and his mechanic friends, it’s been hard to find a mechanic who’s trustworthy, economical and good at the job.

But I can happily report that, when it comes to my heating and air service, I’m perfectly content with my contractors.

Part of the reason why, I’ll admit, is because they’re family. I knew I could trust my dad with my car, and I know I can trust my nephews with my HVAC.

Shawn and Thomas have worked in the heating and air industry for a decade and opened their own business three years ago. They’re never more than a phone call away when I have a question or a short drive when there’s a problem. Knowing they have my back when it comes to my heating and air system puts me at ease.

Expertise and honesty speak volumes, so I asked Shawn to share a few tips for choosing an HVAC contractor. Most importantly, he advises homeowners to have their HVAC serviced at least once a year, preferably twice. The same way Daddy reminded me to change the oil in my car before it got low, Shawn says routine service of the HVAC system prevents most big problems and large repair bills.

Here are a few more of his helpful tips:

Manufacturers recommend servicing HVAC systems twice a year, in the spring for the cooling system and in the fall for heating. In their warranties, manufacturers reserve the right to not warranty parts if you haven’t had routine maintenance performed; they typically don’t enforce this, but it is in the fine print.

A springtime service involves cleaning coils and checking the motor to make sure all is operating at manufacturer recommendations. A stopped up coil causes a system to work harder and longer, using more energy and driving up your power bill. The spring check also involves flushing out drain lines to rid them of debris that can build up and prevent optimum efficiency.

Spring or winter, a thorough maintenance service call includes checking ductwork. If torn ductwork allows hot air to blow in the attic, you’re wasting energy and unnecessarily spending more for power. A visual inspection of ductwork is essential to make sure it’s intact and supplying adequate insulation.

An HVAC maintenance call on an average-size home should take at least 45 minutes to an hour. If a contractor spends 10 minutes on the job and says everything looks good, call another contractor. It will take longer than that to clean coils, check refrigerant, check ductwork and do everything else required of a comprehensive checkup.

A good contractor educates the homeowner. Do you want to get more quality air in your home? You might want to try a dehumidifier. Is one room hotter than the rest? You may need to modify the ductwork to get more air into that room. A reliable contractor asks questions and provides solutions.

Before hiring an HVAC contractor, check references. It’s hard to beat a good reference, and you can go online and check reviews, too. No contractor makes everyone happy all the time, but if the same negative comments consistently pop up on reviews, there’s probably a reason for it.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,News,saving,blogMon, 04 Jun 2018 16:44:53 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_hvactechnician.jpg?10000Charging Wiselyhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/charging-wisely/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/charging-wisely/With the multitude of electronic gadgets available in the 21st century, charging them smartly is more important than ever.

Overloading electric outlets can damage electronics, their cords and your receptacles. Using power strips and surge protectors the right way can eliminate these concerns. Here are a few things to consider when charging cellphones, iPads and electronics in general.

Power strips and surge protectors

Most homes have at least one or two power strips, usually located in the rooms that house the most entertainment electronics, such as television, game systems and computers. While almost all power outlets contain plugins for two devices, power strips contain multiple outlets; when plugged into a wall receptacle, the power strip enables you to plug in several electronic devices at one wall outlet. The purpose of the power strip is simply to enable you to plug in more electronics or appliances.

Surge protectors, also known as surge suppressors, look almost the same as power strips. Actually, they are power strips – but power strips with an additional and important purpose.

At a minimum, surge protectors, like regular power strips, allow you to plug in multiple electronics. But surge protectors also keep electronics from being damaged by sudden changes in current or spikes in power.

Voltage spikes are extremely high increases in power most often caused by lightning, tripped breakers or power outages. Even though power spikes may last less than a second, the damage they can cause could lead to hours, even days, of frustration if a TV or other often-used electronic item is damaged. Plugging electronics into surge protectors adds a certain level of protection from damage caused by power spikes as the surge protector works to block or short to ground any electrical voltage that’s beyond safe levels.

Surge protectors are manufactured to protect sensitive electronics, like computers, laptops, televisions and game systems. Kitchen appliances and other household items don’t need to be plugged into surge protectors.

Even surge protectors can’t protect against the most severe lightning strikes, but using them will cut down significantly on the risk of damage due to power spikes.

Know the difference

The last time I went shopping for a surge protector, I came home with a simple power strip. I blame it on being a distracted shopper. Don’t make the same mistake.

Power strips and surge protectors look the same, so it’s important not to grab and go. Take a minute to read the package description. On its packaging or imprinted on the item itself, surge protectors will have an electric rating and information about how much voltage it can absorb from a spike in power.

Surge protectors cost more, but not much more, than regular power strips. You can find a power strip with six outlets for 10 bucks or less; you’ll probably pay up to twice that for a six-outlet surge protector. Still, the price is right for protecting your valuable electronic devices.

Stop the vampires

No discussion of electric outlets is complete without addressing the energy-sucking wastefulness caused by energy vampires. What?

Vampire energy is electricity consumed when electronics are not in use. Think: phone chargers plugged into an outlet with no phone on the other end or TV plugged in while you’re on a two-week vacation. Even though they’re not in use, energy is being drawn to power them, so you still pay for that electricity.

Unplug.

Sure, you don’t want to unplug your TV every time you turn it off. But if you have two or three more in the house that are rarely used, unplug them. And of course it doesn’t make sense to pull out the washer and dryer to unplug when they’re not in use, but you certainly can unplug the Keurig, unplug the blender and unplug the toaster.

And that reminds me of another great thing about power strips and surge protectors: to squelch the energy vampires drawing power from electronics not in use, you only have to flip one switch.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,News,blog,savingThu, 17 May 2018 07:00:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_surgeprotector-2.jpg?10000Right Choice Homes: Designed for Comfort & Savingshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/right-choice-homes-designed-for-comfort--savings/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/right-choice-homes-designed-for-comfort--savings/“Location, Location, Location.” It’s a familiar phrase that’s on your mind if you’re buying a home. But, are you also thinking about your new home’s energy efficiency?

Thanks to its Right Choice home program, Jackson EMC makes it easier for homeowners to ensure their new home will be comfortable and energy efficient.

Right Choice homes are built from the ground up by industry-leading builders and are tested for home performance to ensure their energy efficient construction is working. In fact, Right Choice homes come with a one-year comfort warranty and a three-year energy usage warranty.

New homes built under the Right Choice program also earn Jackson EMC’s lowest residential energy rate, which saves homeowners over the life of their home. Right Choice new homes help lower your largest energy expense – heating and air conditioning – by 20-30 percent, compared to standard homes.

The Right Choice home program is exclusive to Jackson EMC. More than 10 million square feet of Right Choice homes have been built since the program began.

Ask your Jackson EMC representative for complete warranty terms and conditions. And, to learn why a Right Choice home is right for you, ask your builder or realtor, or visit jacksonemc.com/rightchoice.

]]>latest,right choice,saving,NewsThu, 10 May 2018 08:35:42 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_tyandrightchoice.jpg?10000Ways to Save: Summer Rates Now in Effecthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-summer-rates-now-in-effect/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-summer-rates-now-in-effect/When the summer months hit, Jackson EMC members typically use more electricity to cool their houses and businesses. But, take heart: You’ll spend fewer energy dollars than most households in Georgia.

Higher temperatures increase the demand for electricity. Still, our 2017 summer residential rates for an average member consuming 1,500 kWh per month were on average 8.6 percent lower than all electric providers in the state, according to the Georgia Public Service Commission’s Residential Rate Survey.

By reducing your energy use, you can lower your monthly electric bill this summer. For tips on steps you can take to lower your monthly bill, visit jacksonemc.com/waystosave.

]]>latest,energy,saving,NewsThu, 10 May 2018 08:28:30 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_waystosave-summerrates.jpg?10000Washer Water: Best Hot or Not?http://news.jacksonemc.com/washer-water-best-hot-or-not/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/washer-water-best-hot-or-not/My mother would not have dreamed of washing dirty laundry in cold water. How could anything worn in a day come clean without agitating in hot water? It was simply unimaginable.

Fast forward. That’s not the case with today’s machinery and cleaning products. Not only does washing in cold water get your clothes plenty clean; it saves energy and money on your power bill, too.

With advances in washing machines and laundry detergents, washing in hot water no longer has to be the norm. Cold water works just fine, according to Consumer Reports.

The evolution of washing machines from center agitator-models to front- and top-loading has brought about multiple changes. Newer models use less water, but they get clothes cleaner. And the water they do use doesn’t have to be hot to kill germs like when Mama used to wash; tougher detergents are crafted to do that.

To meet Department of Energy standards, washer and dryer manufacturers have lowered temperatures necessary for washing. And that’s great news because, according to Energy Star, heating the water used to wash clothes accounts for almost 90 percent of the energy needed to run the washer. The less hot water used, the less energy used—and more money saved.

So how, if the water’s cool, do the clothes get clean?

Manufacturers of laundry detergent had to catchup with the advances made by washing machine manufacturers. The folks at Procter & Gamble explain that traditional detergent enzymes could be “sluggish” in cold water, so they created a new mix that delivers clean loads of laundry in cold water. Consumer Reports vouches for the newer detergents, saying they have “gotten much better at putting enzymes to work in removing dirt and stains at lower water temperatures.” In fact, some of the newer detergents are less effective at higher temps, according to Consumer Reports.

The good news for homeowners is that laundry washed in cold water shrinks the power bill—but not the clothes.

Washing often in hot water causes clothes to shrink, fade and wrinkle. Washing in cold water is the gentler choice and can extend the life of your garments. That’s another way to win by washing in cold water: what you wear lasts longer, lengthening the time between shopping trips for new clothes.

Typically, washing in hot water is necessary only when clothes are seriously dirty, like when cleaning dirty cloth diapers or work clothes bearing dirt or grease. The toughest stains may require a special detergent, but for the most part, cold water is fine. Just be sure to use the correct amount and type of detergent and use your washing machine according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Despite the past decade’s tremendous advances in cold water washing, about 60 percent of Americans continue to wash their clothes in warm water, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

Make this the year you switch from hot to cold water washing. It’s not your Mama’s washer, or detergent, anymore.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,saving,blogWed, 09 May 2018 13:14:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_laundrywasher2.jpg?10000Blueprint for Savingshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/blueprint-for-savings/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/blueprint-for-savings/Your house is a major investment. Jackson EMC makes it easy for members to save money when making energy efficient improvements. All you need is a blueprint to get started. Here’s how we can help.

SECURITY SYSTEM

Protect your home and family’s safety with a professional security company. EMC Security offers an affordable, self-install security system. Plans are affordable and start at $16.95 a month.

Maintaining your home’s thermal envelope, which prevents heat transferring from the interior of your home to the exterior, can result in major savings to your monthly electric bill. TV host and home expert Ty Pennington gives a quick explanation about insulation and how to maintain your home’s thermal envelope.

Participating in Green Power program allows you to reduce your impact on the environment without installing equipment at your home. Participating members purchase 150-kilowatt-hour blocks of green energy for an additional fee of $4.00 per month.

]]>latest,News,savingWed, 18 Apr 2018 15:49:18 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_april18-slides-0417183.jpg?10000Ways to Save: What is ENERGY STAR?http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-what-is-energy-star/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-what-is-energy-star/When shopping for new appliance, you may have noticed an ENERGY STAR label on products. But, what does that label really mean?

WHAT IS ENERGY STAR®?

Most consumers recognize ENERGY STAR’s product label which is a government-backed standard for energy efficiency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ensures that each product that earns the label is independently certified to deliver quality, performance and savings.

HOW DOES A PRODUCT EARN AN ENERGY STAR LABEL?

Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label are more energy efficient than standard products. For example, qualified refrigerators are at least 15 percent more efficient than the minimum federal efficiency standard.

Prior to 2011, ENERGY STAR products were self-certified by its partners, such as retailers and manufacturers. However, the EPA now oversees third-party certification of products, which include testing in an EPA-recognized lab and review by an EPA-recognized certification board. Plus, the EPA takes some products straight from store shelves to test for performance.

WHAT PRODUCTS ARE ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED?

Clothes washers and dryers, refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers are some of the most well-known ENERGY STAR certified products. There are also product categories for heat pumps, TVs and computers. ENERGY STAR recently added new product categories for electric vehicle chargers and smart thermostats.

HOW MUCH IN SAVINGS CAN I EXPECT WITH ENERGY STAR PRODUCTS?

According to ENERGY STAR, a certified full-sized electric dryer will save you $200 in energy bills over the life of the product. For a household of four, an ENERGY STAR certified water heater could save you approximately $330 a year on electric bills. Savings by products vary, so check ENERGY STAR’s website for details.

WHERE DO I GET DETAILS ABOUT PRODUCTS?

ENERGY STAR’s website (energystar.gov) has overviews, buying guidance and energy efficiency tips for each product category. Before buying, visit ENERGY STAR’s website and get familiar with the information about its certified products.

In addition, all major home appliances must display a yellow EnergyGuide label, which tells you how much energy an appliance uses and how its energy usage compares to similar models. Appliances that are also ENERGY STAR qualified are noted on the EnergyGuide label.

Jackson EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by our members. Each year, amounts collected above the cost of providing electric service are credited to member-owners’ capital accounts based on their patronage (total billing less sales tax).

Your 2017 capital was 8.32 percent of your total patronage. See the worksheet to calculate your capital credit.

This notification is for all rates, except QF, LPS, LGS or MBS (you can find your rate designation printed on your monthly bill). Members with those rates have received a separate notification.

]]>latest,saving,NewsWed, 18 Apr 2018 15:38:39 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_calculatingmoney.jpg?10000Ways to Save: Time-of-Use Rateshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-time-of-use-rates/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-time-of-use-rates/If you can shift using high energy users – such as air conditioning and electric water heaters – to off-peak hours, time-of-use rates may be for you.

By signing up for Jackson EMC’s Time-of-Use rates, you can take advantage of a year-round lower electric rate for reducing your energy usage between the hours of 3 to 8 p.m. on weekdays from June 1 to September 15.

During peak periods (3 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, excluding the Independence Day and Labor Day holidays, between June 1 to September 15), the cost of electricity per kilowatt hour will be 34.35 cents for participating members. During off-peak periods, the cost lowers significantly to only 7.35 cents per kilowatt hour. The normal residential rate is 8.81-11.66¢ per kilowatt hour. The monthly service charge for Time-of-Use members is $23 per month.

To participate this summer, sign up by May 1. Register by calling 1-800-462-3691 or visiting your local Jackson EMC office.

]]>latest,savingTue, 13 Mar 2018 14:02:34 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_timeofuseclockspromo.jpg?10000Save Big When You Add Jackson EMC Rebates to Your Upgrade Planshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/save-big-when-you-add-jackson-emc-rebates-to-your-upgrade-plans/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/save-big-when-you-add-jackson-emc-rebates-to-your-upgrade-plans/You can lower your power bill by using energy efficient products, and Jackson EMC will help you pay for them.

When you use energy efficient technologies, the amount of electricity we need to generate decreases, resulting in savings for the cooperative — and our members. That’s why we’re happy to offer rebates when you purchase certain energy efficient products.

Rebates for electric water heaters, heat pumps (starting at 15 S.E.E.R.) and home energy evaluations are available to Jackson EMC members. Be sure to contact us before making a purchase. Details are available on Jackson EMCs’s website or by calling your local Jackson EMC office.

]]>latest,savingTue, 13 Mar 2018 13:39:15 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_heatpumpmini.jpg?10000Surge Protection for Your Valuable Investmentshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/surge-protection-for-your-valuable-investments/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/surge-protection-for-your-valuable-investments/Lightning is a giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates about 25 million lightning strikes hit the ground each year in the United States. When lightning hits the ground, it can enter homes through electrical cabling and introduce dangerous energy surges into equipment connected to the system.

To keep electronics safe, high quality surge protectors are a good idea to protect your equipment. Jackson EMC offers high-quality surge protectors. Single outlet protectors are available for $17 and are equipped with a variety of other features, including modem and coaxial protection. An eight-socket strip is available for $88.

Surge protection for motor-driven appliances, such as HVAC units, refrigerators, garage door openers and water heaters is available through Surge HELP®. Fees for this protection can be added to your monthly Jackson EMC bill. Annual coverage starts at $5.75 a month for $2,000 coverage.

]]>latest,savingTue, 13 Mar 2018 13:37:11 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_istock-836505256.jpg?10000Cut Home Improvement Costs with Rebates, Incentives from Jackson EMChttp://news.jacksonemc.com/cut-home-improvement-costs-with--rebates-incentives-from-jackson-emc/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/cut-home-improvement-costs-with--rebates-incentives-from-jackson-emc/How many times has cost prohibited you from doing something you wanted or needed to do?

If you’re like me, the answer is probably “too many times to count.”

And that’s why the rebates, incentives and financing offered by Jackson EMC are exciting. With these price-slashing tools available, there’s greater opportunity to make the home improvements you’ve been putting off and purchase the tools that could lower your energy costs.

Jackson EMC routinely makes available a broad array of enticing rebates and incentives to encourage its members to use highly efficient, energy-saving and cost-saving technologies.

To keep abreast of what’s offered, visit jacksonemc.com/rebates. You may be surprised at what you see. Here’s a brief rundown of money-saving options currently available to owners of existing homes:

Smart Thermostats. Co-op members who shop at Jackson EMC Marketplace can save substantially with $50 instant rebates on smart thermostats. Several of these high-tech, cost-saving thermostats are available at different price points, including the 3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat and Ecobee4 WiFi Thermostat with Built-in Alexa Voice Service (each regularly priced at $249 but only $199 with rebate) and the Ecobee3 Lite WiFi Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E, each regularly priced at $169 with an instant rebate price of $119.

The Ecobee4 Smarter WiFi Thermostat with two room sensors is regularly priced at $313 but available for $263 with rebate. And you can even equip your home with a smart thermostat for less than $100 with either the Honeywell Wi-Fi 7-Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat or the Lux/GEO WiFi Thermostat, each regularly priced at $149 but $99 with the instant rebate.

Home Energy Evaluation. Have a Right Choice-certified technician perform an analysis, or audit, of your home’s insulation, air sealing, air flow, HVAC and more, and you may qualify for up to $1,000 in rebates. You’ll automatically qualify for a $200 rebate on the home audit and, according to the technician’s recommendations, you may qualify for up to $400 in rebates on insulation and air sealing, and up to $400 in rebates on duct sealing and replacement.

Electric Heat Pump Replacement. A $400 rebate is available to Jackson EMC members who replace an electric or gas system with a 15 S.E.E.R. ENERGY STAR® electric heat pump, 15 S.E.E.R. minimum.

Water Heaters. When replacing your water heater, you may quality for $500 rebates for an ENERGY STAR® Heat Pump water heater or Marathon water heater and a $150 rebate for a standard electric water heater.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,saving,blogThu, 15 Feb 2018 10:03:13 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_homesavings.jpg?10000Ways to Save: DIY Home Checkup Kithttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-diy-home-checkup-kit/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-diy-home-checkup-kit/Saving money on your electric bill can be as simple as using more energy efficient LED light bulbs or making bigger changes, like installing additional insulation in your home. But, where do you start?

Jackson EMC’s DIY Home Checkup Kit, which includes a DVD, guides you through the steps of making your home more energy efficient and comfortable. It’s free for Jackson EMC members.

With a DIY Home Checkup Kit, you’ll learn specific steps you can take to lower your monthly electric bill.

]]>latest,savingTue, 13 Feb 2018 10:03:07 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_tyhomecheckupkit.jpg?100005 Spots to Place Your Indoor Security Camerahttp://news.jacksonemc.com/5-spots-to-place-your-indoor-security-camera/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/5-spots-to-place-your-indoor-security-camera/Every home could use an indoor security camera as an extension of their home security system. They are great for extra security and protection against crime.

But, if you have an indoor security camera, where should you place it? Consider these spots:

First Floor Windows: If an intruder can’t enter through a door, they may try a first-floor window. Having a security camera sit on a table facing the window (diagonally to reduce glare) can work as a great deterrent if burglars see the camera.

Stairways: Placing a security camera on stairways guarantees capturing two images of burglars – one as they go up the stairs and the other as they go down the stairs.

Front and Back Doors: Monitoring your main entrances makes sense. Most burglars will try the front door first, then side and back doors. Point an indoor security camera directly at the door, facing outside. If possible, aim to keep the camera about 7 feet off the ground pointing down at a slight angle. This is ideal to capture a clear view of an intruder’s face.

Master Bedroom: Burglars usually go to the master bedroom first because of the valuables kept here.

Garage and Sheds: Approximately 9 percent of all break-ins occur through open garage doors. Place a security camera inside a garage or shed at an angle (to avoid sunshine glare) to capture any potential burglars.

It’s important to remember that security cameras are not a replacement for monitored home security systems. They are simply to add an extra layer of security. With professional monitoring by EMC Security, if an intruder gets inside your home, you will have help quickly.

EMC Security offers a selection of video cameras, including indoor cameras priced at just $99. For a limited time, get a free camera with a video subscription and two-year commitment.

]]>latest,saving,securityTue, 13 Feb 2018 09:57:37 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_emcsecurityindoorcamera.jpg?10000Ways to Save: Ways to Payhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-ways-to-pay/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-ways-to-pay/Jackson EMC offers a variety of ways for members to pay their power bill. Whether you prefer to mail your payment, pay in person, or handle your transaction online, we have a payment method that fits your life.

Pay online using a bank account, credit card or debit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards with the Visa or Mastercard logo. Credit/debit card payments are limited to $600 per single transaction. Payments are posted immediately.

Visit MyJacksonEMC.com to sign up for a MyJacksonEMC account and to view instructions.

Phone Payments

Call 1-888-228-9166 to pay over the phone using our automated payment system, which is available 24/7.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards with the Visa or Mastercard logo. E-checks are also accepted using our automated payment telephone system. Payments are posted immediately.

Auto Pay Program

The Auto Pay Program allows you to pay your monthly bill through an automatic draft from your bank account or credit/debit card. Sign up for the Auto Pay Program at MyJacksonEMC.com or via the MyJacksonEMC mobile app.

Visit MyJacksonEMC.com to sign up for a MyJacksonEMC account and to view instructions.

An after-hours night depository box for drop-off payments is available at each office. Payments in the depository box will be processed the next business day.

]]>latest,savingsTue, 16 Jan 2018 08:00:37 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_stock-photo-hands-holding-a-credit-card-and-using-laptop-computer-for-online-shopping-229253272.jpg?10000My Winter Chore: Weather-Strippinghttp://news.jacksonemc.com/my-winter-chore-weather-stripping/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/my-winter-chore-weather-stripping/On the day before Thanksgiving, an able crew completed the task of repairing and repainting my home’s wood siding. Over the past 14 years, the sun had faded the yellow body and green shutters, and the dogs (when puppies) had chewed a few of the lowest planks of siding. Planks in disrepair had to be removed and new ones installed before the painting began.

As with any home repair job, a few wrinkles slowed down the progress, including an occasional rain shower. So, when the project was complete one day before our Thanksgiving deadline, I was impressed, relieved and thankful.

On the day after Thanksgiving, I noticed light peeking through at the front door. I’d been aware of the need for new weather-stripping before the painting began, but in the frenzy of choosing colors, cutting back shrubbery, and comparing siding prices, I completely overlooked the need for new seals.

So now it’s back to the home repair drawing board.

Along with completing an attractive look for my newly painted home, I’m counting on weather-stripping to keep out the cold air in winter and hot air in summer—and to lower my power bill in the meantime.

To prepare for this New Year’s task, I’ve been doing my homework. Who knew there was so much to learn about weather-stripping?

Only my front and back doors need this attention, and I want to choose materials that will best hold up to the friction produced by opening and closing doors, along with weather and seasonal changes in temperature. First and foremost, I want weather-stripping that will seal the tightest when the doors are closed but still allow them to open and close with ease.

Ah, the choices!

Some types of stripping, such as felt or foam, are inexpensive but not the most efficient in blocking airflow. Vinyl weather-stripping resists moisture well, making its case for paying a little more. Metals are affordable, also, and last a long time.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the most common weather-stripping options:

Felt: Easy to place and the least expensive, felt weather-stripping can be tacked, glued or stapled into the door jamb. For a more durable felt, try all-wool, which costs a bit more but is better at preventing airflow.

Tape: When applied to doors and windows that are not used much, this low-cost option is a good one. It’s easy to install but doesn’t provide the most durable seal.

Foam: More difficult to install because it must be sawed, nailed and painted, reinforced foam provides effective sealing at a relatively low cost.

Tension seal: Invisible when installed, this durable option comes in vinyl (sometimes self-adhesive), copper, aluminum or stainless steel and is durable and relatively simple to install.

Rubber and vinyl tubes: Placed around a door, vinyl or sponge rubber tubes can be effective as doors press against them to form a seal. Cost is moderate to high.

Reinforced silicone: Similar to vinyl tubes, reinforced silicone comes as a tubular gasket attached to a metal strip that’s applied on a doorjamb or window stop. The seal is good, but installation requires cutting metal and the cost is higher than other options.

Magnetic: One of the most effective sealers, magnetic weather-stripping works like refrigerator gaskets and can be applied to the sides and top of doors and on double-hung and sliding windows. It’s among the most effective choices, so expect to pay more.

Interlocking metal channels: For professional installation only, this option for doors provides the best in a seal but comes with the higher price to achieve it. Oh, how I’d love the interlocking metal channels, but their price turns me back to felt or foam.

I’ll probably do this job myself, using tips for application from Energy Saver:

When preparing to purchase weather-stripping, add the perimeters of doors and windows to be stripped and add 5-10 percent for waste.

When weather-stripping doors, apply a continuous strip along each side, making sure stripping meets tightly at the corners.

Happy New Year—and happy home repairs, too!

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>blog,savingMon, 08 Jan 2018 17:52:00 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_housecleaningblog.jpg?10000On This Silent Night, Do Safety Righthttp://news.jacksonemc.com/on-this-silent-night-do-safety-right/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/on-this-silent-night-do-safety-right/When working as a crime reporter for a daily newspaper in the 1980s, I discovered one thing was sure to occur each holiday season: Someone’s house would burn and their family would be left homeless and distraught during what was supposed to be the happiest time of the year.

You could bet on it happening at least once between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. It might as well have been penciled in as an annual assignment for the news staff to write a front-page feature on a bereft family who’d lost all possessions to fire, including a sparkly Christmas tree and every gift under it.

These stories always cast a pale on the newsroom, resulting in sadness and sympathy from otherwise cynical reporters.

Truly, there are few things more difficult to report on than a grieving family who’s lost everything—God forbid, even a family member—to fire during the holidays.

After switching gears from the newspaper to writing for electric cooperatives, I better understood what seemed to be the inevitability of a holiday house fire. During this season, there’s more cooking, more entertaining, more lights, more electronics—more of everything that calls for electricity, and so the inherent dangers associated with it are multiplied.

For the past two decades, I’ve written article after article on electric safety, especially at the holidays, reminding electric cooperative members that overloaded

Granted, there have been Decembers when I’ve thought, “Seriously, this story again? No, not this year.”

But then my memory returns to those newspaper assignments about loss of home, possessions, and sometimes life, due to fire at the holidays. Immediately, my gratitude for the opportunity to remind co-op members of electric safety resumes.

And so, in hopes these simple reminders may keep your holidays happy and safe, I offer up the obligatory holiday article on safety tips. These come from the Electrical Safety Foundation (ESFI, www.esfi.org), and you’ve probably already heard or read them, but maybe your children or their friends have not.

Yes, these tips are routine. But they will remain relevant as long as electricity powers holiday celebrations:

Use battery-operated candles. Candles start almost half of home decoration fires.

Keep combustibles at least three feet from heat sources. Heat sources too close to decorations contributes to half of home fires that begin with decorations.

Protect cords from damage. To avoid shock or fire hazards, cords should never be pinched by furniture, placed under rugs, located near heat sources, or attached by nails or staples.

Check decorations for certification label. Decorations not bearing a label from an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or Intertek (ETL) have not been tested for safety, could be hazardous, and should be avoided.

Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Unattended cooking equipment is the leading cause of home cooking fires.

Turn off, unplug, and extinguish all decorations when going to sleep or leaving the house. Unattended candles are the cause of one in five home candle fires. Half of home fire deaths occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

In winter and summer months, heating and air conditioning systems are used more often, which is reflected in electric bills. Budget billing takes the 12-month average of your household’s electric bill and balances it so members pay the same amount each month.

]]>latest,co-op,savingThu, 14 Dec 2017 08:42:38 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_budget-billing-chart.jpg?82078Are You Energy Savvy?http://news.jacksonemc.com/are-you-energy-savvy/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/are-you-energy-savvy/How Jackson EMC's Online Resources Can Save You MoneyFor many people, winter's chill often signals a rise in electric bills. Which has many asking, is Mother Nature the sole culprit? Perhaps.

But, if weather isn’t the only cause of higher electric bills, do you know the other sources?

If you’re not already savvy on how to save money on your electric bills, Jackson EMC has online tools that can help guide you.

For starters, Jackson EMC’s Home Energy Monitor gives you a personalized report on your energy usage. Knowing where your energy dollars are going is a key step to intentionally lowering your electric bill. The web-based Home Energy Monitor not only shows you where your energy dollars are being spent, but also gives recommendations on how to lower your costs.

For most residents, heating and cooling costs represent a large portion of their energy usage. But, do you know how much another major contributor – water heating – is costing you? The Home Energy Monitor provides that insight.

After completing the brief online profile of your residence, you will receive personalized saving tips and the steps you can take to lower your energy use. For example, installing a smart thermostat and using ENERGY STAR™ rated appliances can result in significant savings. The Home Energy Monitor tells you how much you can expect to save annually with each recommendation.

You can also view an analysis showing how much of your bill is from other energy usage, such as cooking, refrigeration and lighting.

Once you’ve learned where your energy dollars are being spent, you can use another web-based tool, Jackson EMC’s My Energy Use portal, to view when you’re consuming energy by the day and hour. My Energy Use’s dashboard is accessible via your online account at ebill.jacksonemc.com.

Learning the hourly and daily energy use habits of your family, you may notice patterns that can be opportunities to become more energy efficient. For example, a spike in usage each morning at 7 a.m. may signal the need for your family to turn off more lights and appliances when getting dressed each day.

With the combination of My Energy Use and the Home Energy Monitor, you’re savvier on your energy usage, which leads to savings on your electric bill.

]]>latest,savingThu, 14 Dec 2017 08:42:06 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_energysavvyfeatured.jpg?10000Ways to Save: Proper Insulation Means Big Cost Savingshttp://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-proper-insulation-means-big-cost-savings/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/ways-to-save-proper-insulation-means-big-cost-savings/ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY COSTS IS SOMETHING YOU MAY HAVE CONSIDERED ONLY WHEN YOU BOUGHT YOUR HOUSE.

Proper insulation can save up to 30 percent of your heating and air conditioning costs. But, according to one study by Harvard University, almost 65 percent of houses in the United States are poorly insulated.

Is your home costing you more money because of poor insulation?

TV star and home energy expert Ty Pennington explains how you can identify if it’s time for you to consider additional insulation in your home.

]]>latest,savingTue, 14 Nov 2017 13:54:36 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_tytalks-insulation-0.jpg?10000Smart Settings, Smart Thermostat, Smaller Power Billhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/smart-settings-smart-thermostat-smaller-power-bill/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/smart-settings-smart-thermostat-smaller-power-bill/My son and his bride are experiencing an age-old dilemma of new marriage: When he sheds his jacket, she reaches for a sweater. Their cool/warm comfort levels aren’t quite in the same zone.

As with marriage in general, when it comes to a comfortable temperature in the home, they are working to find common ground. Fortunately, their mutual desire to eat and keep the bills paid has led them to employ energy saving measures.

Some are simple: She would rather raise the thermostat setting in winter, but instead she settles for a sweatshirt. They use ceiling fans to help cool rooms in summer. And in winter, they open the blinds to let in the sun’s warmth.

These small changes have made some difference, but it may be time for them to think big, to think smart ‑‑ to make the move that optimizes their heating and air energy efficiency. It’s not complicated: Set the thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer.

But, what about comfort?

My son typically sets the AC at 62 degrees in summer, and his wife is happy with the heat at 74 degrees in winter. But the coziness they feel inside the home can turn to discomfort when it’s time to pay the power bill.

Working the heating and air system as little as possible cuts costs, and that occurs when the setting on the thermostat is closest to the temperature outside. The further apart the indoor setting to the outdoor temps, the more you’ll pay for energy.

To decrease the gap, try readjusting your comfort level. Similar to dieting, it can be uncomfortable at first, like my son swapping bacon for blueberries. But in a short time, your body will adjust to more budget-friendly thermostat settings.

Try decreasing or increasing the thermostat setting, one degree per day, until you’ve reached the optimum 68/78 degrees settings. If you typically set the thermostat at 74 degrees in winter, lower it by one degree each day until you’re at 68 degrees. You may be surprised at how quickly your body adapts to the decreased temps, and your power bill will decrease, too.

Another smart move the newlyweds can take to lower their power bill is to invest in a smart thermostat. Actually, I might get them one for Christmas.

Smart thermostats make wise energy use easy. Nest, ecobee and Emerson are some of the top brands on the market with products featuring everything from touchscreen to built-in Wifi. Some send energy reports based on usage patterns and others have sensors that detect you’re home from work early and turn the heat up automatically. Wow!

Bells and whistles aside, the smartest thing about smart thermostats is that they allow you to program your settings to maximize energy savings at night or when you’re away from home. In hot months, you may opt to set the thermostat at 85 degrees when you leave for work at 8 a.m., giving your AC some relief while you’re away from home. Program the thermostat to lower the temperature back to 78 degrees at 5 p.m., and you’ll return to a comfortable home.

In winter months, set the thermostat in the low 60s when you leave for work and program it to return to 68 degrees by the time you get home.

Yes, I’m thinking Santa may tuck a smart thermostat under my son’s Christmas tree this year. It’s a gift that really does keep on giving.

Jackie Kennedy has worked with Georgia’s electric cooperatives for 23 years, producing newsletters, press releases and articles about the industry or energy-related matters. She is the author of People, Power, Progress: The Story of Jackson EMC, published in 2013. In her blog, she grapples with a variety of energy efficiency topics.

]]>latest,saving,blogTue, 14 Nov 2017 10:30:46 -0500https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_nest-thermostat-library.jpg?61476(Don't) Let the Sunshine Inhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/dont-let-the-sunshine-in/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/dont-let-the-sunshine-in/By Jackie KennedyI absolutely adore the family room in our home. The leather sofa and loveseat are worn in just the right places and the perfect spots to catch up with the kids—or catch a nap. Family photos are on display, along with a huge painting of magnolia blossoms that hangs over the grand square piano I inherited from my grandmother. Across the room from this antique is the room’s newest addition, a curved TV with HD that’s finally updated my viewing experience to 21st century standards.

Our family room is a perfect combination of old and new, classic and comfy. But there’s one problem: It’s the hottest room in the summer, and the coldest in the winter. Thank you, big windows, for creating this aggravation.

The 20x20-foot room has two floor-to-ceiling windows on each of three sides, one which faces the west to capture the afternoon sun in all its hot summer glory. The rest of the house can be a comfortable 78 degrees while the family room stifles somewhere around 85. It rarely bothers me; I stay cold even in summer, thanks to inheriting (along with her piano) my grandmother’s thin blood. But when company’s coming, I turn down the thermostat to accommodate them, hoping the temp in the family room reaches at least high 70s before they arrive.

Closing the blinds helps, and so does the ceiling fan. Eventually, I’d like to purchase new energy-efficient windows designed to help lower heating and cooling costs, but that’s an expense that has to wait until my youngest is at least halfway through college.

In the meantime, I’m considering options for window treatments that would provide additional comfort for my hot-natured company while reducing heat in the summer and welcoming it in winter. The assessment so far:

Whether we use shades, drapes or blinds, white is the best color because it reflects heat away from the house. (Check. My wide, horizontal slatted blinds are white.)

Speaking of blinds, adjustable slats help control ventilation and light. Reflective blinds that are lowered and closed on a summer day can reduce heat gain by up to 45 percent.

Draperies that are medium-colored with a white plastic backing can reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent in summer. The darker the draperies, the greater the heat reduction. In winter, drawn drapes may reduce heat loss by 10 percent. (Ah, now I understand why my mother kept up those dark green drapes in her living room.)

Take a tip from the hotel industry and double (or even triple) drapes to create a tighter air space.

Window shades can be great energy savers when lowered in the summer. For the best efficiency, try dual window shades, which are white and highly reflective on one side, while dark and heat absorbing on the other side. Keep shades down all day and reverse them as the seasons change, making sure the reflective side faces what’s warmest—your home’s interior in winter and outside in summer. (Hmm, wish they made blinds like this.)

Outdoors, installing awnings to provide shade over windows can reduce heat gain dramatically—by as much as 77 percent on windows facing west. Today’s awnings are crafted from synthetic fabrics that are water-repellant and mildew-resistant. Use light-colored awning fabric to best reflect the sun’s rays. As winter approaches, roll up retractable awnings to allow in the sun.

It’s a lot to think about, but one thing is clear. As much as I love the view outside my family room, keeping the blinds closed in summer is the kind thing to do for my hot-natured kin.

]]>blog,savingWed, 20 Sep 2017 13:24:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_blinds.jpg?10000Becoming the Boss: How I Gained Control Over My Power Billhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/becoming-the-boss-how-i-gained-control-over-my-power-bill/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/becoming-the-boss-how-i-gained-control-over-my-power-bill/Every year as March gives way to April, I vow to add to spring cleaning tasks an analysis of my energy use with plans to address the culprits that pump up my power bill. But before I know it, summer’s almost over and I’m getting the kids ready for school again.

This year, thanks to the new My Energy Use portal and the Home Energy Monitor at jacksonemc.com, I finally conquered this elusive spring chore.

When it comes to cutting energy bills, My Energy Use is a cool tool in Jackson EMC’s ever-expanding toolbox. This personal Web portal allows you to view your energy use on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, comparing highs and lows in order to better manage energy use—and bring down your electric bill.

It’s a lot like Weight Watchers online, but instead of assessing eating habits in order to improve nutrition and lose weight, you discover your energy usage habits in order to use less electricity and lower your power bill.

Getting started is easy. Just log in to your online member account at ebill.jacksonemc.com and click on the My Energy Use button. The Dashboard that pops up features your energy use over the last 30 days, allowing you to see how your usage compares to electricity consumed the previous month.

Using the easy-to-follow instructions at the portal, you can view your energy use in the format you choose, whether that’s hourly usage, weekly or monthly. You also can view and compare billing cycles. Overlays allow you to compare usage from a year ago or determine how last week’s weather affected your energy consumption.

Being able to study energy use data that is unique to my home gives me the ability to better understand how and when my family uses energy. This eye-opening information enabled me to discover our usage patterns—and come up with ways to use energy in a more conservative, and cost-saving, manner.

For me, seeing a spike in usage on Saturdays reminded me that mid-day in hot weather is not the best time to wash and dry clothes or cook big meals, so I rescheduled those chores to early morning or evening.

Another handy component of the My Energy Use portal is the ability to set up an email alert to inform you when your energy use reaches a limit you’ve set, giving you more control over your power usage and the power bill that follows. Likewise, notifications can be established to let you know when something out of the ordinary causes more energy consumption than usual.

Navigating the new portal is easy, even if you, like me, are not the most technology-savvy. A Library Tab gives access to more resources that show how to make the most of the My Energy Use portal, and there’s a video tutorial to walk you through the site.

Last, but far from least, when you have a handle on your energy use—when you’ve discovered your usage patterns and the energy busters that boost your power bill—the Home Energy Monitor provides practical solutions to address those busters.

For me, the Home Energy Monitor is to the My Energy Use portal what the Weight Watchers cookbook is to the weight loss program: It offers smart and practical recipes tailored to help achieve a desired result. Plug in a few details about your home, appliances and energy usage, and the Home Energy Monitor evaluates the info and delivers actions you can take to decrease energy use and costs.

Shifting my thermostat from 74 degrees to 78 this summer hasn’t been so hard, especially when I know that the more I dial it up, the more my bill comes down. And now that I’ve noticed that tiny sliver of sunlight peeking through at my front door, I’ve decided to rip out and replace the weather stripping around all my doors; it’s a simple chore that will cost just a few dollars—and save a few more each month.

With My Energy Use and the Home Energy Monitor, I’ve found information unique to the way I use electricity—and practical ways to stay on top of my energy use.

Best of all, my power bill isn’t the boss of me anymore. I’m in charge!

]]>energy,SavingFri, 14 Jul 2017 13:48:10 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_becomingthebossfeaturedimage.png?10000Perspective: Planning For Low-Cost Electricityhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-planning-for-low-cost-electricity/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/perspective-planning-for-low-cost-electricity/Keeping Down Our Costs, And YoursThere was a time as a child when I thought “budget” was a bad word. I wasn’t sure exactly what the word meant, but I knew that most times it meant we didn’t have the money for something I thought I needed. Maybe you experienced it, too.

“Dad, can we go to Disney World this summer?”

“Six Flags, maybe; Disney World, no. You know we don’t have the budget for that.” “Mom, can I get a dirt bike like Timmy has?” “Nope, that’s not in our budget right now. But Christmas is just around the corner. Maybe you can ask Santa.”

Like I said, back then I didn’t even know what a budget was—just that it was not much fun and it often prevented me from having instant gratification.

Now, I realize that budget is not a bad word or a bad thing at all. I’m thankful that my parents were disciplined and stuck to a budget, and I’m glad they taught me how to wisely handle my finances. It’s been a helpful tool in raising a financially-secure family. My kids ask me for silly things sometimes, too. My two favorite words to them when I hear those requests are “save up.” They know I’m not buying everything they ask for and they better find a way to save their own money.

At Jackson EMC, we incorporate the same common sense values my mother and father did when it comes to keeping a budget and making good financial decisions. If we can’t afford it, we don’t buy it. If it would break the budget, we don’t do it.

Fortunately, because Jackson EMC has embraced good, common sense stewardship of members’ money through the years, we are in good financial standing. Not only are we able to meet our current needs but plan for the future as well. The same way you plan in advance for a family vacation or your child’s college education, we plan for projected needs at Jackson EMC.

Part of our planning is based on previous power demand. With that in mind, we strive to accurately forecast future supply needs and determine the best way to meet those needs. Sometimes this involves securing a long term power supply contract from the wholesale market, and other times this means using electricity we generate at our own facilities. This strategy lets us provide you with reliable electricity and ensures that we have enough electric power to meet growing demand. This long range outlook helps us continue to offer a consistently stable electricity supply at affordable prices that are less susceptible to market swings.

Another way we stick to our budget is by inviting you, our members, to help us keep costs down. Some of you do this by taking part in our load management program to help us decrease our peak demand on the hottest days of summer, when demand is at its highest point during the year. Participants in this program allow us to remotely turn off their air conditioners and water heaters for a few minutes each day to cut back on their electric use—and our system demand. They usually can’t tell the difference, but we see a huge difference: This program saves us almost $500,000 each year.

While sticking to our budget has always served us well, we also work to help you keep within your budget. Our website is packed with energy saving tools and ideas that, when implemented, can lead to cost savings on your power bill. Visit www.jacksonemc.com/savenow for a ton of tips.

And read about our new My Energy Use portal in this issue of JEMCO News. It’s an online tool that helps you track your personal electricity use. With that knowledge and by applying energy saving strategies, you can take more control over your energy use—and how it affects your budget.

]]>coop,perspective,savingFri, 14 Jul 2017 13:18:33 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_20160630chipjakinsemp2012.jpeg?97917Bring Out the Blenderhttp://news.jacksonemc.com/bring-out-the-blender/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/bring-out-the-blender/By Jackie KennedyMy birthday is this month and I’ve asked the kids for an electric knife. They laugh. But as I labor to peck out this blog, I’m painfully serious.

My right hand, my writing hand, is in a splint. The accident happened Easter morning while sawing a ham. When the knife’s point hit the bone, my hand jolted off the handle and up the blade, slicing three fingers and severing a tendon in one.

The injury probably would not have happened with an electric knife. The one I’d used for two decades had sputtered to a halt a few months earlier—and should have been replaced immediately.

But then, I wonder. Even if an electric knife had been in the utensil drawer, would I have taken time to pull it out and plug it in?

And that gets me to thinking about the other small electric appliances I have tucked away in drawers and cabinets. Would I use them more if they were handier?

In my mother’s kitchen, the coffee maker, can opener and blender held honored positions on the countertop. The waffle maker was readily available and easy to reach. We even had an electric ice crusher that was the envy of my childhood friends.

Fast-forward 40 years to my kitchen, and the only appliance assigned to a permanent post on the counter is the Keurig. The microwave is built in above the stove, but all the other appliances are stashed away, out of sight lest they mussy up my pristine countertop.

The blender, hand mixer, toaster, griddle, slow cooker, deep fryer, food processor and standard coffee maker—they all are relegated to shelf space behind closed cabinet doors. The only time these tucked-away electric tools see the light of day is when retrieved for a specific chore. And when their work is done, they’re washed and again hidden from view.

But why is that, and is it a smart thing?

Using small appliances instead of the range for cooking is long-known to be an energy-saver. The microwave, griddle and toaster oven use less energy to operate, but that’s not all. While these small appliances generate relatively little warmth, an oven on bake and stovetop with pots simmering can produce enough heat to make the kitchen feel like a sauna. In turn, that heat causes the A/C to kick in harder, working overtime to cool the kitchen—and push up the power bill.

Along with energy savings, small appliances can provide safer ways to prepare meals. Using a food processor to cut up veggies can prevent accidents—the same as employing an electric knife at Easter likely would have prevented mine.

Sure, small appliances come with their own concerns. You must keep them from water to prevent shocks, and don’t dare forget to secure the lid before turning on the blender, or your kitchen walls could be splattered with spaghetti sauce (yes, guilty).

All in all, the more I consider the advantages of routinely using them, the more I think it’s time to bring out the blender and make small appliances fashionable again, to convert them from relics tucked away in cabinets to mainstays on my kitchen counter.

Or perhaps I should follow the lead of a friend whose oven died about the same time her passion to cook passed away. She could have removed the non-functioning appliance, but what does the lack of a stove do to the cosmetics of a kitchen? That’s like a dining room without a table.

Instead, she turned her range into storage space for her small appliances. Voila!

The warming drawer is her hideaway for the waffle maker, mixer and griddle. And the stove is the perfect place to stash the blender, toaster and slow cooker.

I’m not ready yet to retire my range, but I’m planning to pull my small appliances out of hiding and put them to work.

Jackson EMC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned by our members. Each year, amounts collected above the cost of providing electric service are credited to member-owners’ capital accounts based on their patronage (total billing less sales tax).

Your 2016 capital was 7.59 percent of your total patronage. See the worksheet to calculate your capital credit.

This notification is for all rates except QF, LPS, LGS or MBS (you can find your rate designation printed on your monthly bill). Members with those rates have received a separate notification.

]]>coop,home,need to knowThu, 01 Jun 2017 18:00:00 -0400https://content.presspage.com/uploads/1937/500_dreamstimemaximum-12903326.jpg?10000What Will You Buy With Your Energy Savings?http://news.jacksonemc.com/what-will-you-buy-with-your-energy-savings/
http://news.jacksonemc.com/what-will-you-buy-with-your-energy-savings/Electric bills often increase in the summer. The increase in summer bills is due to higher cost per kWh and because on average, members use more electricity in the summer compared to the rest of the year. While no one likes higher bills, Jackson EMC members enjoy some of the lowest rates in the state. Out of 94 electric utilities surveyed statewide, Jackson EMC is among the lowest, according to the Georgia Public Service Commission's Summer 2016 Residential Rate Survey. Between May and September, when our summer rates are in effect, members using 1,500 kWh a month save $69.15 over the average customer statewide.
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